Somatosensory iconicity: Insights from sighted signers and blind gesturers

Abstract Iconicity studies in the field of sign language linguistics, and in other disciplines, have predominantly been visuocentric, emphasising vision over other senses. This qualitative, experimental study investigates whether bodily or somatosensory senses contribute to the formation of iconicity. The research compares a group of five sighted signers with a group of two congenitally blind gesturers using elicitation and interview methods. The observed similarities in iconic descriptions suggest a role for somatosensory iconicity. Results indicate that both groups use their hands motivated by manual actions and exploratory procedures, which are essential for the haptic perception of objects. Moreover, because both the hands and the world are tangible, touchable, and sometimes touched, the hands iconically represent the world based on these experiences. In contrast, the sighted group also utilises visual feedback to adjust their articulators, making them visually iconic while exhibiting varying degrees of somatosensory iconicity. This suggests a sensory/semiotic ratio. The findings expand the concept of linguistic and semiotic signs to include somatosensory perception, encouraging recognition of the previously overlooked aspects of iconicity and semiotic signs.